Pandemic-Related Stress Affects People Differently

Now that we are many months into the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, research is beginning to emerge regarding stress and factors related to its impact on individuals and groups. The “we’re all in this together" mindset has worn off for many people, as it has become clear to some that we are all affected by the pandemic in different ways, and some much more so than others. While many people have lost jobs, many have not. While some have experienced illness and loss, others have not yet been directly affected by the illness in their families and close social circles. These differences highlight unique experiences and factors that play into an individual’s level of stress dependent upon one’s own life circumstance. A study conducted by researchers Dana Rose Garfin and Rebecca R. Thompson (reviewed in Science Daily) recently found that stress also depends upon pre-existing conditions (both mental and also physical) and factors associated with decreased finances and access to resources. In addition, exposure to media coverage of the pandemic was found to be associated with heightened stress levels. These recent findings highlight the importance of mitigating the individual circumstances that may heighten stress levels by reaching out for help and accessing community resources, as well as by limiting over-exposure to media coverage related to the pandemic. We may all be going through this together, but we do not need to feel as though we are all affected by it in the same way, nor that we should be handling it the same way. We are not…and that is okay.

-AMS